Wah Lum Kung Fu ushers in the Year of the Tiger
By Patrick Ball/Staff Writer Concord Journal Posted Feb 18, 2010 @ 05:08 PM
Lion Dances and martial arts demonstrations marked Wah Lum Kung Fu of Concord's Chinese New Year celebration Feb. 13. 2010.
Highlights of the event
Lion Dances opened and closed the Chinese New Year celebration Feb. 13, at the school’s Knox Trail, Acton, location. Moving to a drum beat, Buddha led the Lion around the arena, ushering in the Year of the Tiger with a traditional performance that included eating a head of lettuce offered by a Wah Lum student.
Wah Lum students ages 6 to 13 punched, kicked and blocked through a coordinated exercise followed by individual performances that also featured weapons. Later, adult students ages 13 through 50 treated the audience to group and individual displays highlighted by Sifu Andrea Sheffield and assistant instructor Evan Hughes’ simulated sword and staff battle.
Between the kids and adult demonstrations, Sheffield led “everyone not wearing a Wah Lum uniform” through an exercise in the Chi Kung breathing technique, which she described as easy from an exertion level, but which tests one’s patience. “This was a chance to take a deep breath,” Sheffield said, encouraging the dozens of adults and children to “just breathe and ask your arms to follow your breath.”
Overheard at the event
“It’s great. Concord’s full of culture and Andrea brings her own little piece of China. It takes a lot of discipline, so knowing how hard [the kids] have worked, it’s really quite a feat for them, and for the adults, it’s the same. Everyone works hard, but it’s also a lot of fun.” — West Concord resident Regina Hugendubler, a spectator and friend of Sheffield’s
“I really liked seeing the lion, and my performance. And I also liked the grownups performance.” — Iain Bailey, 7, Wah Lum Concord student
“Anyone can do Kung Fu. It’s not just for the Jackie Chans and the Jet Lis of the world. It was developed by monks for the betterment of themselves … I’ve learned to appreciate the Eastern arts and this ancient culture. This is all about getting people to broaden their perspectives.” — Sifu Andrea Sheffield
Photos by Patrick Ball.
http://www.wickedlocal.com/concord/features/x692834922/Wah-Lum-Kung-Fu-ushers-in-the-Year-of-the-Tiger